Magnum, P.I. is an American action drama television series created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson and starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii, whose cases frequently have a humorous overtone and always just enough danger.
The series aired in the USA on CBS from 11 December, 1980 to 24 February, 1988. There are 162 hour-long episodes in eight seasons.
The series originally aired in South Africa on the old SABC channel TV1 (which later became SABC2), from 1981. It later aired on StarSat's (formerly TopTV) FOX Retro channel, ending its run after seven seasons when the channel became defunct in 2013; on DStv's and StarSat's FOX Crime channel (from Season 4) and on SABC3.
About the Show
Thomas Sullivan Magnum, IV grew up with a father in the Navy, who died when he was 10, and entered the Naval Academy at 18. Magnum, a third generation Naval officer, graduated the Academy, became a Navy Seal, and was sent to Vietnam.
He made two life-long friends, Theodore "TC" Calvin and Orville "Rick" Wright, while serving in Vietnam.
After the war, Magnum was transferred to Naval Intelligence, and stationed in Pearl Harbour. His buddies retired from the military. TC opened up a helicopter tour guide service, while Rick was a club manager.
At the age of 33, Magnum woke up one morning and realised he was never 23. He quit the Navy, got a PI license and opened a practice in Hawaii.
He was eventually hired by a world-renowned author and playboy, Robin Masters, to monitor security at Robin's Nest, a huge estate on the north shores of Oahu.
Robin Masters would jet from one part of the world to another, and visit his various estates, and write best selling novels.
Robin's Nest is run by Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, a proper Englishman. Higgins was in lineage of a Duke and served in the Royal Army as a Sergeant Major.
Magnum lives in Robin's guest house and drives Robin's Ferrari. As a result, Higgins treats Magnum as a leech; however deep down they have great respect for each other.
The series follows Magnum on his various adventures involving clients, guests staying on the estate, or plots involving his days in Vietnam.
Magnum requires assistance occasionally from his friends, TC, Rick, Asst. D.A. Carol Baldwin, his buddies in Naval Intelligence; and even Higgins lends a hand from time to time.